Accused wedding videographer skips court

Jesse J. Clark, the former wedding videographer accused of not delivering videos for which he had accepted deposits, was a no-show at his own court date Tuesday.

Mr. Clark, former owner of SureShot Videography and SureShot Portraits in Millbury, did not appear in Dudley District Court Tuesday for a supplementary process hearing.

The court issued a civil arrest warrant for Mr. Clark, formerly of Sturbridge and now living at 203 North Sturbridge Road, Charlton, after he missed the hearing.

Mr. Clark allegedly took deposits ranging from $800 to $2,000 from more than 90 couples and then did not deliver the promised video services.

Nicholas P. Frye, a Boston lawyer representing several couples who filed complaints against Mr. Clark, said in an email before the scheduled hearing Tuesday that he had planned to ask the judge to lock up Mr. Clark for contempt of court. He also said the judge should place an order detailing how Mr. Clark will be required to pay a significant judgment against him.

In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Frye said civil judgments have been issued against Mr. Clark for four of his clients. Mr. Clark was ordered to pay about $20,000 for one couple and $16,000 for another couple; the amounts for two other couples have not yet been determined, he said.

According to Mr. Frye, Mr. Clark sent him an email recently in which he claimed he would file for personal bankruptcy after the judgments were issued.

“He sort of manipulates the system and he’s educated enough to know enough to do it,” Mr. Frye said.

Mr. Frye has subpoenaed Mr. Clark’s bank records and said he intends to prove Mr. Clark has the resources to pay the civil judgments.

“This is the final straw where he’s been able to get away with everything for so long,” he said. “Now I just want to see him locked up.”

In January, state Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against Mr. Clark, seeking more than $75,000 in restitution plus civil penalties and the full recovery of existing wedding footage.

Superior Court Judge Judith Fabricant granted a preliminary injunction against Mr. Clark, his business SureShot Portraits LLC and former employee Keith Morin, prohibiting them from accepting consumer deposits for any kind of business in the future.

The court also issued an injunction against Mr. Clark’s estranged wife, Veronica A. Clark, who is cooperating with the state, according to Coakley’s office. According to Coakley’s complaint, Mrs. Clark “held herself out to be the vice president of SureShot Videography in communications with consumers.” Mrs. Clark’s lawyer, Robert A. George, has said Mrs. Clark is not vice president of the company.

Mr. Clark also faces criminal assault and battery charges for allegedly pushing down a television cameraman outside the Millbury Police Department in June. Paul Jarvey, a spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., said Mr. Clark is scheduled to return to Central District Court for likely disposition on Monday.

Contact Susan Spencer at susan.spencer@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanSpencerTG.